The MBB All-Time Blue Bomber team: (B) KIck Returners

[TrueBlue4ever]

Part 2 - the kick returners. Here are the bios:

All-star recognition for returners began in 1986

Special Teams Player of the Year first awarded in 1999

Order of stats: returns-yards-average-long-TD

 

Mack Herron - 31 games in 2 seasons (1971-72), KR career: 52-1571-30.2-120-1, best: 35-1019 (both 1971)-32.5 (1972), led CFL in kick return yards and average (1971), #2 club all-time in single season kick return average, club record longest kick return (120 yards), West division Most Outstanding player (1972)

Ryan Lankford - 18 games in 2 seasons (2017-18), PR career: 17-132-7.8-23-0 (2017), KR career: 62-1492-24.1-105-1, best: 50-1223-24.5 (all 2017), MFG career: 3-102-34.0-56-0 (2017), #4 club all-time in single season kick return yards

Leo Lewis - 161 games in 12 seasons (1955-66), PR career: 3-21-7.0-12-0 (1960), KR career: 187-5443-29.1-91-1, best: 29 (1963)-854-32.8 (both 1957), led CFL in kick return yards (1957, 63, 64), led CFL in kick return average (1957, 58, 64), single season club record for kick return average (32.8 in 1957) and 3 of the top 5 single season averages in club history, #1 club all-time in career kick returns, yards, and average, 1962 Grey Cup MVP, 5-time team nominee for Most Outstanding Player (1958, 60, 61, 62, 65), CFL Hall of Fame, 6 Grey Cup appearances (1957-59, 61, 62, 65), 4-time Grey Cup champion (1958, 59, 61, 62)

Quincey McDuffie - 13 games in 1 season (2016), PR: 22-236-10.7-34-0, KR: 42-1165-27.7-98-2, MFG: 1-27-27.0-27-0, led CFL in kick return average (2016), single season and career club records for kick return TDs (2)

Dave Raimey - 66 games in 5 seasons (1965-69), KR career: 106-2864-27.0-105-2, best: 31-930-30.0 (all 1968), led CFL in kick return yards (1965, 67, 68), led CFL in kick return average (1965), career club record for kick return TDs (2), #4 club all-time in career kick returns, #3 club all-time in career kick return yards, #2 club all-time in career kick return average, 2-time team nominee for Most Outstanding player (1966, 68), Grey Cup appearance (1965)

Tom Scott - 59 games in 4 seasons (1974-77), PR career: 42-275-6.5-29-0, best: 22-148-6.7 (all 1975), KR career: 93-2404-25.8-95-0, best: 29-814-28.1 (all 1976), led CFL in kick return yards (1974), #4 club all-time in career kick return yards, #4 club all-time in career kick return average, CFL Hall of Fame

Paul Williams - 66 games in 5 seasons (1971-75), PR career: 54-290-5.4-37-0, best: 27-119 (both 1973)-6.7 (1974), KR career: 61-1622-26.6-109-1, best: 23 (1972)-648-32.4 (both 1974), #3 club all-time in career kick return average, #3 club all-time in single season kick return average 

Edited February 20, 2019 by TrueBlue4ever

[TrueBlue4ever]

One man's take:

Lots of the returners on all of these lists seem to have one big year but no real long lasting impact, but a couple of the names on this list broke that trend and had a significant impact over a longer period. 

McDuffie - Barely rates a mention on this list except for the fact that he returned 2 to the house in one season to tie a club record, but he will be last in this group

Lankford - Again, tiny body of work but one big season at least gets him on the contenders list. Still, no higher than 6th.

Williams - Limited touches every year give him smaller numbers, but his average per return was impressive.

Herron - A dynamo as a player for his short time here, as evidenced by big seasons as a returner and running back, but not enough longevity in Winnipeg to crack the top 3.

Scott - May hold a CFL record for longest kick return that did not actually end up as a touchdown (I did not research it, but to go more than 95 yards and not make the end zone seems improbable). Some good consistent years, had he not gone on to greater success with the Evil Empire in the Eskimo dynasty years, he would rank higher than 3rd.

It comes down to a choice of two, although that choice seems fairly simple in the end.

Raimey - Had to replace a Bomber legend in Leo Lewis as a returner, and acquitted himself quite impressively in that regard. Was the league's pre-eminent kick returner over a 4 year span, and if you factor in games played, was a busier returner than Lewis and would have put up bigger career numbers had he played as long as Lewis did. Would be a solid choice as the all-time kick returner, as he was well above any other contender on this list not named Lewis. #2 with a bullet.

Lewis - the Lincoln Locomotive will be back in the running back category, and he may be more well-known for his feats as a tailback, but he has no peer in this group. Bud Grant called him the greatest player he ever coached, and all the numbers back it up. Career leader in all the categories, and the all-time average tells you it wasn't simply due to his long career that he outpaced everybody else. Plus, his team success puts him above Raimey in this competition. The only question is, will a dual threat from tomorrow's list supplant him in the run-off vote? Stay tuned.

Edited February 20, 2019 by TrueBlue4ever

[Brandon]

I choose Allan Boyko

[SpeedFlex27]

Wanted to vote for my all time favourite player Raimey  but... I had to give this to Leo Lewis.

[TrueBlue4ever]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Wanted to vote for my all time favourite player Raimey  but... I had to give this to Leo Lewis.

Raimey is a good candidate for the running back candidates, or even the "jack-of-all-trades" list which someone suggested which I am now likely to add, so I am confident you will have other chances to vote for him. He was a threat all over the field it seems. Too bad he moved on to Toronto and didn't play our his whole career in Blue and Gold.

[SpeedFlex27]

30 minutes ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Raimey is a good candidate for the running back candidates, or even the "jack-of-all-trades" list which someone suggested which I am now likely to add, so I am confident you will have other chances to vote for him. He was a threat all over the field it seems. Too bad he moved on to Toronto and didn't play our his whole career in Blue and Gold.

Dave Raimey was simply an outstanding player. Great running back who had the ability to change directions & juke defenders out of their shorts. Nicknamed The Knife he was a great receiver out of the backfield. As well as a great KO returner. Top that off with the fact he could also play defensive back very well & he was one of the greatest to ever put on a Bomber jersey. By 1969, he had become tired of losing every year. Other than Raimey & Flanker Ken Nielsen there were no other threats on offense. He demanded a trade by going public with his beefs & was dealt to Toronto.  Raimey had said the Bombers as an organization wasn't committed to winning which was a criticism directed at then Bomber GM Earl Lunsford. Those comments angered Lunsford. No player could criticize Earl publicly & get away with it. Even superstars like Raimey & Don Jonas weren't immune & both found that out as they were gone in a flash.

[17to85]

Lankford and McDuffie make the list but no AJ3? seems an oversight no?

[TrueBlue4ever]

3 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Lankford and McDuffie make the list but no AJ3? seems an oversight no?

AJ3 is in the dual threat category, which i just posted.